Diversity at Work

By Aly Colón

The coverage of the controversial Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. continues cascading down the political news stream and carries with it issues of religion, race and resentment. The furious flow of information tends more toward the political than the "r" factors.

But whatever the focus, we need to provide context about what is being said. We need a more comprehensive understanding of Wright, his views and how representative they are.  

We need to ask questions and hear from diverse voices. That requires journalists to seek out sources who not only agree, or disagree, with Wright's views, but who occupy space across the spectrum between those two extremes. We also ought to raise questions about assertions that Wright represents and/or speaks for "the black church."

Here are some questions we might pursue:

• How representative is Rev. Wright of the pastors who pastor a "black church"?
• What does he mean when he speaks of the "the black church"?
• Is there one theology common to such a church?
• Do "black churches" interpret scripture the same way?
• Do other "black churches" see whites the way Wright does?
• How is the Christian perspective in the "black church" similar to or different from that of a "white church," or "Hispanic church," or "Korean church," to cite just a few examples?

I'm sure journalists could come up with more questions. For more information, background and a variety of perspectives, you can start with such sources as Religion Link's guide to African-Americans and religion.

Then there are sites that focus on press and religion. One is "The Revealer," which is based at New York University and consists of a team of editors and writers. Another is "Get Religion" which also has a team of writers. The site has published blog items about the news media's coverage of Wright for some time. Terry Mattingly posted a piece about Wright recently on Get Religion. Mattingly also writes a column on religion for Scripps Howard News Service and has written about religion for Poynter's "Journalism with a Difference" column, which laid the foundation for "Diversity at Work."

The key here is to expand our understanding as journalists so we can do the same for those who rely on us.